Rath Yatra images 2017: Thousands of devotees celebrated the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath across India on Sunday amid high security. In Odisha's pilgrim town Puri, the event started with religious fervour and enthusiasm as devotees gathered for the yatra braving rain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, BJP president Amit Shah, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other dignitaries greeted the people on the holy ocassion of Lord Jagannath's annual car festival. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the celebrations were flagged off from the Jagannath Temple in Hauz Khas. The event was attended by Delhi BJP unit chief Manoj Tiwari. Apart from this, celebrations took place in Ahmedabad, Kolkata and many other parts of the country. Here are pictures from the Rath Yatra celebrations:

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More than 3,000 of police personnel have been deployed in the pilgrim town apart from central para-military forces, while over 180 CCTVs have been installed on the grand avenue to keep a close vigil. (Reuters))

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Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: A group of Russian devotees dance during 46th ISKCON Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Kolkata. (PTI)

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Priests of ISKCON temple carry the idol of Lord Jagannath to install it on chariot before the start of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Kolkata. (PTI)

Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: Sadhus take part in the Lord Jagannath annual Rath Yatra in Bhopal. (PTI)

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Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: A Hindu devotee performs Gatka, a traditional martial arts form, during a rehearsal for the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, which commemorates a journey by Hindu god Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, in specially made chariots, in Ahmedabad. (Reuters)

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Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: Hindu devotees give money to a decorated elephant outside the Jagannath temple on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad. (PTI)